Polyoxometalate-reduced graphene oxide hybrid catalyst: synthesis, structure, and electrochemical properties

The deposition of polyoxometalate (POM) on chemically reduced graphene oxide sheets was carried out through electron transfer interaction and electrostatic interaction between POM and graphene sheets to make a heterogeneous catalyst in aqueous media. Well dispersed individual phosphomolybdic acid (PMo) clusters were observed by electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements. The interaction between polyoxometalate and the graphene sheet was confirmed by using various spectroscopic methods such as FT-IR, UV-vis, and Raman. The UV-visible, IR, and cyclic voltammetry results revealed alteration of the electronic structure of deposited PMo as a result of strong interaction with the graphene oxide surface. Electrochemical properties of the PMo-rGO catalyst were investigated in an aqueous acidic electrolyte. The hybrid catalyst showed enhanced electro-oxidation of nitrite compared with pure homogeneous PMo and rGO.